Background

N.B.

Applications through UNDP jobs will not be accepted, only to the procurement.cv@cv.jo.un.org email address.

Interested candidates are required to read the Procurement Notice for Individual Consultants and its related documents, which are available in the following websites:

Background:

Since the independence childhood and adolescence are in the centre of Cabo Verde government policies. All policies and programmes implemented since this period aimed to respond the needs of children development provided favourable conditions for children and, create a favourable environment for child well-being as well as their personal and social development. In 1982, child protection gained another position at the political agenda, with the creation of a national institute responsible for children policies formulation and implementation – Instituto Caboverdiano de Menores (ICM) – replaced in 2006 by the Cape Verdean Institute for Children and the Adolescent (ICCA). The Institute is implementing a range of preventative measures, promoting the rights and protection of children and adolescent at a national level through decentralized structures, namely Municipal Delegations, representative units and care centres. The Child and Adolescent Law (Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente - ECA) approved in September 2017, attribute the role of coordinating child and adolescent rights and protection policies to the ICCA.

Cabo Verde registered remarkable progress in child development in different areas. On health, substantial gains were observed on the reduction of child morbidity and mortality, immunization, nutrition, etc. Similarly, on the education sector, the country achieved the universal primary education coverage since 2000. The compulsory and universal education was extended up to 8 years and there is a goal to gradually extend it up to 12 years. On the inclusive education, Cabo Verde has made significant progress, especially with the adoption of the Objectives of Education for All and the Millennium Development Goals. Currently, approximately 1 915 children and young people with special education needs are enrolled in the three subsystems of education system (pre-school, primary and secondary).

On the legal framework side, the country has made improvements in the adjustment of the national legislation to the principles and contents of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It’s to highlight that Cabo Verde ratified most important international regulating principles and laws related to the promotion of children’s and adolescent rights. However, the Statute of Child and Adolescent (ECA) approved by the law nº 50/VIII/2013, do B.O. I Série, nº 70, 26 December - is the most important national legislation for the consolidation of the entire Protection System of Child and Adolescent in Cabo Verde.

However, despite the advances in promoting children and adolescent rights, the sector still lacks for an integrated vision and priorities due to different actors acting in this area, with impact on the efficiency and efficacy of implemented programmes. On the institutional domain, for example, the absence of a formal institutional framework for intersectoral coordination shows the current limits for implementing an integral child and adolescent protection policy.  There’s a need of a definition of an institutional for the multi-sectoral coordination, including both public sector (central and local) and NGOs, that avoid programmes overlap, and allowing, the maximisation of resources and outcomes for children.

A redefinition of the ICCA’s role and its capacities in a more integrated and strategic way regarding the implementation of child and adolescent rights is emphasis placed by the Government for child and adolescent protection in the country. However, the translation of this vision in programmes and projects require adjustments. This integrated and multi-sectorial approach is crucial for the integral protection of children and adolescents’ rights. For example, in relation with child sexual abuse and exploitation, problems persist on the institutional approach and in inter-institutional coordination. The first problem concerns the distinctive ways different stakeholders consider the same reported case. The second is on the quality of collected and reported data. Effectively, there is no standardisation in the data collection process and in the systematization of statistical information, making the data which from various sources incomparable. In some institutions, data regarding sexual crime is not filed according to age or sex.

Thus, to develop integrated actions on child and adolescent area requires a definition Child and Adolescent Protection Policy, in accordance with the CRC and others international instruments ratified by the country as well as national regulation and principles, namely the ECA. This policy document will and guide the definition of mechanisms and instruments of the Child and Adolescent Protection System, as defined in the national terminology and in alignment with current needs.

In this context, the Cape Verdean Institute for Children and Adolescent, in partnership with UNICEF, is recruiting an international consultant, that will be assisted by a national consultant, to develop the national Children and Adolescent Protection Policy. Note that the national legislation is aligned with the CRC and ‘child and adolescent’ is includes individuals from 0 to 18 years old. This policy instrument will stablish the guiding framework and the coordination mechanism for the government and NGO’s. This will also allow ICCA, in accordance with its statutes, to enhance its role as coordinator of children and adolescents’ protection and rights policies.

Duties and Responsibilities

The international consult is responsible to coordinate the elaboration of the policy document and the operational plan and ensure the quality of the deliverables. Thus, specific tasks are proposed below and can be complemented on the technical proposal. A national consultant will be recruited in a separated process to support the implementation of this consultancy.  The detailed work plan that will be revised at the beginning of this consultancy will align with the national consultant tasks and will be approved by the Supervision Committee.

The methodology of work includes:

  • Extensive literature review, including international documents, national policy documents, strategies and programmes implemented or ongoing, as well as statistical data and studies produced. As result a document analysis of Child and Adolescents Protection System should be produced, including:
  • A critical analysis based on evidences about the child and adolescent protection system in Cabo Verde;
  • Legal and Regulatory framework;
  • Policy and institutional framework including the analysis of the prioritization of this issue in the public agenda at different levels (governmental, non-governmental and private);
  • Based on the diagnosis elaborate a problem three of the Child and Adolescent System in Cabo Verde, the strengthen and institutional weakness.
  • Interviews, group discussions with the relevant stakeholders, specifically, the Cape Verdean Institute of Children and Adolescent, the Ministry of Education (relevant departments), Ministry for Family and Social Inclusion (relevant departments), the Ministry of Justice and labour (relevant departments), the Ministry of Health and Social Security (relevant departments), the Curatorship of Minors, the Superior Council of Judiciary, Public Attorney, Ombudsperson’s Office, Policies, as well as other public institutions and NGOs, UNICEF and other United Nations agencies;
  • Drafting the National Policy on Child and Adolescent Protection and the operational plan;
  • Organize the content and the methodology and coordinate/deliver workshops presentations and discussion and the final approval of the document;
  • Incorporate relevant contributions collected during the workshops;
  • Report periodically to ICCA and UNICEF about the progress of the consultancy, including constraints and challenges.

The methodology of work should be adjusted at the technical proposal, considering the objectives and expected deliverables. However, a list of documents to be consulted is provided below:

  • The conventions and other regulatory instruments on children and adolescent protection ratified by Cabo Verde;
  • Studies and action plans on child and adolescent protection, among other strategic documents, such as Sustainable Development Strategic Plan (PEDS) and the Government Programme;
  • The National Plan to Combat Sexual Abuse and Exploitation against Children and Adolescents 2017-2019; Child labour and the National Plan Against Human Trafficking;
  • The Constitution of the Republic of Cabo Verde;
  • The Child and Adolescent Statute;
  • Documents on Child Protection Policy, Strategical Plans and other similar documents from other countries;
  • Other documents and legislations that are important to this consultancy.

In 2013 the country produced a mapping of the child and adolescent system (ICCA and UNICEF). This is an important basis to elaborate the new analysis.

Competencies

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in order to communicate complex, technical information to technical and general audiences;
  • Skill in negotiating effectively in sensitive situations;
  • Skill in achieving results through persuading, influencing and working with others;
  • Skill in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and to resolve conflicts as they arise.

Management and Leadership

  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
  • Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Level

  • University degree in social sciences or related field. Master’s or Doctoral level is an asset
  • Complementary education on Child and adolescent development or rights is considered a strong asset.

Professional experience

  • Minimum of seven years´experience on similar work, coordination of studies, strategic planning, processes of defining/evaluating policy and programmes. The consultant can submit a simple of a document delopped
  • The consultant can submit a simple of a document developed
  • Familiarity with the child rights situations and frameworks is an asset.

Language requirements

  • Written and spoken proficiency in Portuguese;
  • Good working knowledge of English and/or French is an advantage.